1. Gas tax increase is here.

• In less than a week, Alabama drivers will see a six-cent gas tax increase, the first increment of the 10-cent hike approved by state lawmakers and Gov. Kay Ivey earlier this year.
• When fully implemented, the increase will generate about $320 million a year for road and bridge projects. The first five state projects have already been identified and are underway.
• Alabama cities and towns will get an additional $26 million a year when the tax is fully implemented. Counties will receive an additional $80 million. Those are totals to be distributed amongst municipalities.
• The current average price of a gallon of gasoline in Alabama is $2.23, which is below the national average of $2.59. City and county gasoline prices, and taxes, vary across the state.
• Proponents of the “Rebuild Alabama” infrastructure plan, including Gov. Kay Ivey, State Sen. Clyde Chambliss, State Rep. Chris England, and trade association leaders are pointing to the progress the state will see as a result of having more revenue for improving roads and bridges.
• “Truly, every part of Alabama will see progress – from our big cities to the Black Belt,” Ivey said.
• Read more in today’s feature story from ADN’s Caroline Beck HERE.

 

2. DNC officially denies Alabama seats at convention.

 

• The Democratic National Committee has voted to deny seats to the two leaders of the Alabama Democratic Party after the state party missed deadlines to comply with DNC directives.
• The DNC accepted a recommendation to revoke the credentials of Alabama Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy Worley and Vice-Chair Randy Kelley. The sanction came after the state party missed two deadlines to hold new elections for their positions and to revise party bylaws.
• A DNC spokesman said the action means Worley and Kelley will no longer be recognized by the DNC.
• Worley said Friday that she expected the action, and downplayed its impact. Worley said she and Kelley will remain in their state party positions.
• Richard Rouco, an attorney representing people who filed the challenge to Worley’s and Kelley’s election, said the action confirms the need for change at the Alabama Democratic Party.
• Full story HERE.

 

3. Ivey: Open to ways to cut tolls.

• In two recent public appearances, Gov. Kay Ivey said she hoped the tolls could be reduced or even eliminated for the Mobile bridge and bayway.
• The project was always likely to include tolls of some kind, but a projected cost of as much as $6 one way, including on the existing Wallace Tunnel, has sparked opposition in Mobile and Baldwin Counties.
• “I wish we didn’t have to have tolls period, and we may not have to,” Ivey said Friday.
• “We will keep looking at it, because it would be wonderful if we could have no tolls. At least let’s see if we can have less tolls, or maybe we can find ways to lower the cost.”
• Opposing the tolls has become a potent political platform for candidates all over the state, and even for some not currently running for office.
• In an interview with APT’s Don Daily, Ivey said she’s heard and listened to all the concerns from the opposition. Now, she said, it’s time for others to propose “solutions” that will fund the bridge, not just concerns.
• “I want some solid good ideas of how we can pay for this bridge… We need to know some proposed solutions that are reasonable and can be implemented.”
• Read the full story from Kim Chandler and see the interview with Don Daily HERE.

 

4. Trump says serious talks with China to begin.

 

• It was a whirlwind of a weekend for the United States vs. China trade war.
• On Friday, China raised tariffs on more American imports. Later that day, President Trump tweeted “ordering” U.S. companies not to do business with China and calling President Xi the “enemy.”
• On Sunday, Trump said he had “second thoughts” about escalating the trade war, which the White House later clarified as him regretting not being tougher towards China.
• And this Monday morning, President Trump is expressing new optimism about renewing trade deal talks, calling Xi a “great leader representing a great country.”
• Trump said he expects the two sides will talk “very seriously” about the ongoing trade war soon.
• Much of the disagreements have to do with technology and intellectual property protections, but the dispute has negatively impacted many American manufacturers and farmers.
• Alabama’s cotton, soybean and peanut industries have been adversely affected by the trade war.
• Read the latest HERE.

 

5. Matthew Stokes: Gratitude and School Choice.

 

• Earlier this month I jokingly warned that the annual deluge of back-to-school photos were coming (may have ticked off a few mommas, tbh).
• Thankfully not everyone is as acerbic and sarcastic as me. In fact, Matthew Stokes sees the annual social media posts as a new cultural rite of passage that amounts to an expression of gratitude.
• And that gratitude is warranted, especially for parents who are sending their kids to high-performing schools where they’ll receive a quality education.
• But with that gratitude also comes a responsibility to help those in less fortunate districts find ways to improve their schools as well.
• Indeed, sometimes the strongest opposition to school choice policies comes not from urban centers where most charter schools would be located, but from rural or suburban areas where they would not.
• Stokes sees the launch of i3 Academy in Birmingham and the announcement of a $25 million grant for New Schools for Alabama to bring 15 more public charter schools to the state as positive steps.
• Here’s an excerpt:

• Read Matthew Stokes’ full column HERE.

 

Headlines.

 

 

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